Tapered golf flagstick

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for a tapered flagstick according to various aspects of the present technology include a transition region disposed along the length of the flagstick that corresponds to ground level when the flagstick is positioned in a golf hole. The transition region comprises a contact zone having a surface that angled towards a center axis of the flagstick resulting in a narrowing of the diameter of the flagstick at or just above ground level. A normal line coming out of the contact zone has an angle of less than ninety degrees and generally points downward towards the ground altering the impact angle of a golf ball striking the flagstick to direct the golf ball in a more downward manner.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/541,907, filed Aug. 7, 2017, and incorporates the disclosure of the application by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY

In golf, the location of a hole on a green is typically marked by a flagstick to help provide players with an indication of where on the green the hole is positioned. Flagsticks are most commonly made from materials such as fiberglass, plastic, metal, or wood and have a diameter sufficient to hold the flagstick upright in the hole but narrow enough to allow a golf ball to fall into the hole. Common diameters of flagsticks are about 0.5 inches, though some types of flagsticks have a slight taper and are thicker in a middle portion compared to the top and bottom ends of the flagstick.

The bottom portion of flagsticks is generally straight and has a constant diameter. This forms a substantially perpendicular surface relative to the ground around the hole. As a result, if the flagstick is impacted by a golf ball the ball is deflected off of the flagstick along roughly the same angle as the impact angle. Therefore, unless the golf ball has a downward angle at impact the golf ball is generally deflected away from the hole.

SUMMARY OF THE TECHNOLOGY

Methods and apparatus for a tapered flagstick according to various aspects of the present technology include a transition region disposed along the length of the flagstick that corresponds to ground level when the flagstick is positioned in a golf hole. The transition region comprises a contact zone having a surface that angled towards a center axis of the flagstick resulting in a narrowing of the diameter of the flagstick at or just above ground level. A normal line coming out of the contact zone has an angle of less than ninety degrees and generally points downward towards the ground altering the impact angle of a golf ball striking the flagstick to direct the golf ball in a more downward manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present technology may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 representatively illustrates a side view of a flag stick positioned in a golf hole in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 2 representatively illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of a transition region and contact zone in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology; and

FIG. 3 representatively illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a transition region and contact zone in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technology.

Elements and steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence. For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in a different order are illustrated in the figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present technology may be described in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, the present technology may employ various materials and shapes, which may carry out a variety of operations suited to a specified application or environment. In addition, the present technology may be practiced in conjunction with any number of systems configured for operation with golf courses, putting greens, and practice tools, and the system described is merely one exemplary application for the technology. Further, the present technology may employ any number of conventional techniques for redirecting, absorbing, or deflecting impact forces.

Methods and apparatus for tapered flagstick according to various aspects of the present technology may operate in conjunction with any system or device used on a putting green during the normal course of play. The tapered flagstick comprises a contact area designed to better direct an impacting golf ball into a hole. For example, referring to FIG. 1, a flagstick 100 may comprise a body having an upper end 102 configured to hold a flag 110 and a lower end 104 configured to be inserted into a cup/hole liner positioned within a standard 4.25 inch diameter hole 106 and hold the flagstick 100 in a generally upright position during use. The lower end 104 of the flagstick 100 comprises a transition region 108 that is positioned above a lower-most section 114 of the flagstick 100. The transition region 108 is configured to increase the likelihood that an impacting golf ball will be redirected or otherwise deflected in a generally downward direction after impact.

The flagstick 100 may comprise any suitable system or device for indicating the location of the hole 106 on a putting green. Except for the transition region 108, the flagstick 100 may be constructed similarly to prior art flagsticks with regards to height, materials, and any other requirements that may be commonly known and used. For example, the flagstick 100 may be constructed of fiberglass and comprise a height of between about five feet and about eight feet.

A standard flagstick commonly known in the art may comprise a diameter along an entire length of the flagstick of about 0.5 inches (12.7 mm). Some known flagsticks include a diameter of about 0.5 inches at the upper and lower ends and generally taper to a diameter of about 0.75 inches (19.05 mm) at a middle section. In an exemplary embodiment of the present technology, the upper end 102 of the flagstick may comprise a diameter of about 0.5 inches and a lower-most section may also comprise a diameter of about 0.5 inches. The flagstick 100 may taper to any desired diameter at a middle section 116 or the flagstick 100 may comprise the same diameter at the middle section 116 as the upper end 102. However, unlike prior art flagsticks, the transition region 108 is disposed between the lower-most section 114 and the middle section 116.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the transition region 108 helps direct an impacting golf ball 210 into the hole 106. The transition region 108 may comprise any suitable device or system for directing an object in a generally downward direction relative to the object's initial angle of contact when a ferrule 208 of the flagstick 100 is positioned in the hole 106. The transition region 108 extends above a top edge of the hole 106, which also is generally aligned with ground level 112. In one embodiment, the transition region 108 may comprise a plurality of sections or zones where the diameter of the flagstick 100 may vary according to any suitable criteria such as a desired amount of flection or the structural requirements of the flagstick 100 itself. For example, the transition region 108 may comprise a contact zone 202, a middle zone 204, and bottom zone 206.

The contact zone 202 is generally intended to help deflect a rolling golf ball 210 that strikes the flagstick 100 downward into the hole 106. The contact zone 202 may comprise a region of decreasing diameter from D1 to D2 such that an outer surface of the flagstick is angled and/or curves inward towards a center axis of the flagstick 100 along the length of the flagstick 100 from a top end of the contact zone to a bottom end of the contact zone proximate the middle zone 204. The angled surface of the contact zone 202 helps deflect the golf ball 210 downwards unlike a prior art flagstick where the outer surface of the flagstick is almost perpendicular to ground level 112.

The diameter of the flagstick 100 in the contact zone 202 may decrease by any amount and may be determined according to a desired level of deflection. For example, in one embodiment, the contact zone 202 may comprise a substantially flat surface creating a uniform rate of reduction in diameter between a top end of the contact zone 202 and a bottom end of the contact zone adjacent to the middle zone 204. The top end of the contact zone 202 may comprise a diameter D1 of about 0.5 inches and the bottom end may comprise a diameter D2 of about 0.375 inches (9.525 mm). In an alternative embodiment, the rate of reduction in diameter between the top end of the contact zone 202 and the bottom end of the contact zone may not be uniform such that the outer surface of the flagstick forms a generally concave curved surface where the rate of reduction in diameter decreases in a nonlinear manner downwardly along the flagstick 100 until reaching the bottom end of the contact zone 202.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in an alternative embodiment, the contact zone 202 may comprise both an increasing and decreasing diameter. For example, the top end of the contact zone 202 may comprise a diameter D1 of about 0.5 inches. The diameter may then initially increase to a diameter D4 before decreasing to diameter D2 towards the bottom end of the contact zone 202.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the bottom end of the contact zone 202 may be positioned along a section of the flagstick 100 that is at, near, or just below ground level 112 and extend upwardly for a predetermined distance to the top end. The predetermined distance may be selected according to any suitable criteria. For example, the top end of the contact zone 202 may be positioned at a height above ground level 112 that is at least as high as a midpoint of a regulation golf ball 210, or about 0.84 inches (21.34 mm). By comprising a length that positions the top end of the contact zone at a height above ground level 112 that is higher than the midpoint of the golf ball 210, it can be assured that a rolling golf ball 210 will contact the flagstick 100 in the portion of the contact zone 202 having a decreasing diameter. Because the outer surface of the flagstick 100 in contact zone 202 has an angled or curved surface, a normal line at a point along the surface of the contact area 202 will be directed towards the ground. Therefore, an angle of impact 212 for the golf ball 210 relative to the normal line 214 will be such that the golf ball 210 is deflected off of the flagstick 100 in a more downward manner towards the hole 106. Conversely, a bouncing golf ball 210 may impact the flagstick 100 above the contact zone 202 at an area where the flagstick has a uniform diameter and is substantially perpendicular to ground level 112 and the golf ball 210 will not gain any benefit of the sloping surface of the contact zone 202.

The middle zone 204 may comprise a region of smallest diameter for the flagstick 100. For example, the middle zone 204 may maintain the diameter D2 from the bottom end of the contact zone 202 to the bottom zone 206. Maintaining the diameter D2 may help allow the golf ball 210 fall completely into the hole 106 by providing a slightly larger area for the golf ball 210 to fit within compared to an upper-most section of the hole 106 at ground level 112. This reduction in diameter may also allow a player to more easily remove the golf ball from the hole without having to completely remove the flagstick 100.

The middle zone 204 may comprise any suitable length and may be selected according to any suitable criteria. For example, in one embodiment the middle zone 204 may comprise a length of between about 1.0 inches (25.4 mm) and 3.0 inches (76.2 mm).

The bottom zone 206 forms a region of increasing flagstick diameter before reaching the lower-most section 114 of the flagstick 100. The bottom zone 206 may form any suitable shape to form a region of increasing diameter. For example, in one embodiment, the bottom zone 206 may comprise a substantially uniform rate of increase in diameter between middle zone 204 D2 and a diameter D3 at the lower-most section 114. In an alternative embodiment, the rate of increase in diameter between the middle zone 204 and the lower-most section 114 may not be uniform such that the outer surface of the flagstick forms a curved surface (e.g. a concave shape).

The bottom zone 206 may comprise any suitable length to allow an adequate transition between the middle zone 204 and the lower-most section 114. For example, the bottom zone 206 may comprise a length of between about 0.75 inches and 2 inches (50.8 mm).

The lower-most section 114 may comprise a substantially uniform diameter along its length to help increase structural stability of the flagstick 100 during use or to allow the flagstick 100 to be used with existing prior art components such as a ferrule 208 that is coupled to the bottom end of the flagstick 100 or to fit properly in existing cups/hole liners placed inside of the hole 106. Alternatively, the lower-most section 114 may comprise a continuation of the bottom zone 206 such that the diameter of the lower-most section 114 isn't constant along its length.

The lower-most section 114 may also comprise a height H2 selected to help ensure that the transition region 108 is properly positioned relative to the hole 106. For example, the hole 106 may extend into the ground by a depth H and the height H2 may be selected to ensure that the contact zone 202 is properly located with respect to ground level 112 as described above. More specifically, in one embodiment, the depth H may extend into the ground approximately 5.5 inches (139.7 mm) and the height H2 of the lower-most section 114 may comprise approximately 2 inches. This may result in the transition region 108 comprising a total length of approximately 3-6 inches (76.2-152.4 mm), wherein the contact zone 202 is positioned primarily above ground level 112 and the top end of the contact zone 202 is positioned between 4-8 inches (101.6-203.2 mm) above the lower-most section of flagstick 100 or between 0.8-1.5 inches (20.3-38.1 mm) above the top edge of the hole 106.

These and other embodiments for methods of creating an enhanced contact zone on a flagstick may incorporate concepts, embodiments, and configurations as described above. The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative of the technology and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present technology in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the system may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.

The description and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative manner, rather than a restrictive one and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present technology. Accordingly, the scope of the technology should be determined by the generic embodiments described and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the specific examples described above. For example, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus embodiment may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations to produce substantially the same result as the present technology and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the specific examples.

As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of the present technology, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.

The present technology has been described above with reference to an exemplary embodiment. However, changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the present technology. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present technology, as expressed in the following claims. 

1. A flagstick, comprising: a transition region disposed above a lower-most section of the flagstick, wherein the transition region comprises: a contact zone disposed along an upper section of the transition region and comprising a region of decreasing diameter from a top end of the contact zone to a bottom end of the contact zone; a middle zone disposed below the lower section of the contact zone and comprising a region of uniform diameter between the bottom end of the contact zone and a lower section of the middle zone; and a bottom zone disposed between the middle zone and the lower-most section of the flagstick and comprising a region of increasing diameter between the lower section of the middle zone and the lower-most section of the flagstick.
 2. A flagstick according to claim 1, wherein the top end of the contact zone is positioned between four and eight inches above the lower-most section of flagstick.
 3. A flagstick according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the contact zone is angled a center axis of the flagstick between the upper section of the contact zone and the lower section of the contact zone.
 4. A flagstick according to claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the contact zone comprises a uniform rate of reduction in diameter between the upper section of the contact zone and the lower section of the contact zone.
 5. A flagstick according to claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the contact zone forms a generally concave curved surface between the upper section of the contact zone and the lower section of the contact zone.
 6. A flagstick according to claim 1, wherein the contact zone comprises a height of between three-quarters of an inch and two inches.
 7. A flagstick according to claim 1, wherein: the top end of the contact zone comprises a diameter of about one-half an inch; and the bottom end of the contact zone comprises a diameter of about three-eighths of an inch.
 8. A flagstick for a golf hole having a hole liner, comprising: an upper end; a middle portion; and a lower end, comprising: a lower-most section having a ferrule configured to be inserted into the hole liner and hold the flagstick in an upright position; and a transition region positioned between the lower-most section and the middle portion, wherein the transition region comprises: a contact zone disposed along an upper section of the transition region and comprising a region of decreasing diameter from a top end of the contact zone to a bottom end of the contact zone; a middle zone disposed below the lower section of the contact zone and comprising a region of uniform diameter between the bottom end of the contact zone and a lower section of the middle zone; and a bottom zone disposed between the middle zone and the lower-most section of the flagstick and comprising a region of increasing diameter between the lower section of the middle zone and the lower-most section of the flagstick.
 9. A flagstick according to claim 8, wherein the top end of the contact zone is positioned between four and eight inches above the ferrule.
 10. A flagstick according to claim 8, wherein an outer surface of the contact zone is angled a center axis of the flagstick between the upper section of the contact zone and the lower section of the contact zone.
 11. A flagstick according to claim 10, wherein the outer surface of the contact zone comprises a uniform rate of reduction in diameter between the upper section of the contact zone and the lower section of the contact zone.
 12. A flagstick according to claim 10, wherein the outer surface of the contact zone forms a generally concave curved surface between the upper section of the contact zone and the lower section of the contact zone.
 13. A flagstick according to claim 8, wherein the contact zone comprises a height of between three-quarters of an inch and two inches.
 14. A flagstick according to claim 8, wherein: the top end of the contact zone comprises a diameter of about one-half an inch; and the bottom end of the contact zone comprises a diameter of about three-eighths of an inch. 